JP2003101911A - Image reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reproducing device with which a reproduction start position can be simply designated. SOLUTION: A position where a user stops reproduction in the past has a high possibility of being a position of program searching for continuously viewing a program except a case where the position is not the last of the program. This image reproducing device is provided with a reproduction stop position table 20 for holding information showing a position obtained when the user indicates the stop of program reproduction in the past. When the user gives a scene retrieval instruction from a remote control, a CPU 4 refers to the reproduction stop position table 20 and extracts a still picture corresponding to the reproduction stop position. The still picture corresponding to the reproduction stop position is displayed on a scene retrieval image to be one of choices to a reproduction start position. Accordingly, the user can quickly perform program searching of a continuous part that the user wants to view.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an image reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing program data recorded on a randomly accessible recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, random-accessible recording media such as hard disks and optical discs have been increasing in capacity and price, and these recording media have come to be used for recording television programs and the like.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image reproducing apparatus 101 using a conventional hard disk.

Referring to FIG. 10, an image reproducing apparatus 101
Receives a received signal from the antenna 106, and the remote controller 130
The program is recorded and played back according to the instructions given by.

The image reproducing apparatus 101 includes a receiving section 102 for receiving an instruction from the remote controller 130, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 104 for system control of the image reproducing apparatus 101 according to an output of the receiving section 102, and an antenna 106. A tuner 108 that receives a received signal, selects a channel according to a control signal from the CPU 104, and outputs a video signal of a program, and a CPU 108 that receives an output from the tuner 108
HDD control unit 11 for controlling writing according to the instruction of 04.
0 and the video signal selected by the tuner 108 to H
An HDD (Hard Disk) that records according to an instruction from the DD control unit 110
Disk Drive) 112.

The image reproducing apparatus 101 further receives and decodes a video signal read by the HDD control section 110 under the control of the CPU 104 when a program reproduction instruction is input from the remote controller 130 to the receiving section. The decoding processing unit 113 and the display unit 122 that receives the video signal decoded by the decoding processing unit 113 and displays the screen are included. The decoding processing unit 113 includes a moving image decoding unit 114 that decodes a video signal recorded in a compressed format in the HDD 112 as a moving image during reproduction, and a still image decoding unit that decodes a sample still image for allowing the user to select a reproduction start position. 116 and.

The image reproducing apparatus 101 holds a picture management table 118 holding sector positions in which pictures that can be displayed as still images for scene search selection are recorded.
Further includes. The still image decoding unit 116 includes a remote controller 130.
When a scene search instruction is given from, the picture management table is referred to, and still images at fixed time intervals and still images before and after the scene change are extracted and displayed as a list on the display unit 122.

For example, a random-accessible large-capacity hard disk is suitable for the purpose of temporarily recording a number of broadcast programs and then picking up and watching the desired program. .

In such a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording for a long time, it is necessary to find a portion to be watched from a recorded program and specify a reproduction start position. Conventionally,
It has been performed to display a list of still images at temporally equidistant positions or still images before and after a scene change, and allow a user to select a desired still image to determine a reproduction start position.

[0010]

However, the positions at equal time intervals and the positions of scene changes are not always the positions where the user wants to start reproduction.

For example, a medium such as a tape which can be accessed only sequentially has a reproduction position mechanically at the time of stop, but when a recording medium which can be randomly accessed is used, once the reproduction is stopped, the reproduction at the time of stop is reproduced. In many cases, the position does not remain mechanically.

Further, there are cases where a plurality of users use the same recording / reproducing apparatus, and there is a case where a program being viewed is present for each user.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image reproducing apparatus which allows the user to easily specify the start position when there is a program being viewed.

[0014]

According to the present invention,
An image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a program recorded on a recording medium that can be randomly accessed, the access controlling means for reading data from the recording medium, and the data read from the recording medium for reproduction. Decoding means for outputting the video signal of the program and the video signal of the scene search screen, display processing means for receiving the output of the decoding means and performing image display processing, and input for inputting a reproduction command, a stop command, and a scene search command from the outside. Means and the access control means in response to the playback command to read the program playback data from the recording medium, to the access control means to instruct the access control means to stop reading the program playback data, and in response to the scene search command. And a system control means for instructing the data reading of the first still image related to the screen being reproduced when the access control means receives a stop command. Obtain.

Preferably, the system control means instructs the access control means to read data of a second still image which is a candidate for selecting a reproduction start position in addition to the first still image, in response to the scene search command, The decoding unit decodes the data of the first and second still images, and the display processing unit performs an image display process of listing and displaying a plurality of still images including the first and second still images.

[0016] Preferably, the program includes a first screen group compressed by intra-frame coding and a second screen group compressed by inter-frame predictive coding, and the system control means issues a stop command. When the stop screen that was being reproduced when it was received belongs to the second screen group, the data of the predetermined screen belonging to the first screen group that was reproduced before the stop screen is read as the data of the first still image. To the access control means.

Preferably, the image reproducing apparatus is a picture management table holding recording position information of screen data compressed by intra-frame encoding on a recording medium, and a program reproduced when a stop command is received. A reproduction stop position table holding information is further provided, the program information includes stop position information which is position information of the stop screen data on the recording medium, and the system control means determines the stop position information and the picture in response to the scene search command. Check the management table,
Identify a given screen.

Preferably, the image reproducing apparatus is a picture management table holding recording position information of screen data compressed by intra-frame coding on a recording medium, and a program reproduced when a stop command is received. A reproduction stop position table holding information is further provided, the program information includes stop position information which is position information of the stop screen data on the recording medium, and the program information includes position information of the predetermined screen data on the recording medium. The system control unit refers to the position information according to the scene search command and instructs the access control unit to read the data of the first still image.

[0019] Preferably, the image reproducing apparatus further comprises holding means for holding date and time information when the stop command is received, and the display means displays the date and time information together with the display of the first still image.

Preferably, the image reproducing apparatus further comprises holding means for holding the user information of the user who has input the stop instruction when the stop instruction is received, and the display means displays the first still image and the user information. Is displayed.

Preferably, the holding means holds, in addition to the user information, stop position information when a stop command is received for each user, and the system control means holds the stop position information corresponding to the user who inputs the scene search command. , And instructs the access control means to read the data of the first still image.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts. In the following embodiments, a recording device that can record and reproduce will be described as an example of the image reproducing device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image reproducing apparatus 1 of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, image reproducing apparatus 1 receives a received signal from antenna 6 and records a program in accordance with an instruction given from user A using remote controller 30 and an instruction given from user B using remote controller 32. Or play.

The image reproducing device 1 receives a command from the remote controllers 30 and 32, and a CPU 4 which controls the system of the image reproducing device 1 according to the output of the receiving part 2.
A tuner 8 which receives a reception signal from the antenna 6 and outputs a video signal of a program by selecting a channel according to a control signal from the CPU 4, and a writing control according to an instruction from the CPU 4 upon receiving the output of the tuner 8. The HDD control unit 10 and the HDD 12 that records the video signal selected by the tuner 8 according to an instruction from the HDD control unit 10 are included.

The remote controllers 30 and 32 and the receiver 2 may be input devices such as an instruction button and a keyboard provided in the image reproducing device.

The image reproducing device 1 further includes a remote controller 3
A decoding processing unit 13 that receives and decodes a video signal read by the HDD control unit 10 under the control of the CPU 4 when a program reproduction instruction is input to the reception unit from 0, 32.
And a display unit 22 that displays a screen by receiving the video signal decoded by the decoding processing unit 13. Decryption processing unit 13
Is a video decoding unit 14 that decodes a video signal recorded in the HDD 12 in a compressed format as a video during reproduction.
And a still image decoding unit 16 for decoding a sample still image for allowing the user to select a reproduction start position.

When the monitor of the display unit is separated and is connected by a cable, such as a video deck in the image reproducing apparatus, the display unit 22 monitors the video signal in a format displayable by the monitor via the cable. Output to.

In the image reproducing apparatus 1, the picture management table 18 holding the sector position in which the picture that can be displayed as a still image for selecting the scene search is stored, and the users A and B instruct the reproduction stop. And a reproduction stop position table 20 holding the reproduction position information at the time.
Picture management table 18 and playback stop position table 20
May be recorded in a storage medium such as a non-volatile memory that is separate from the HDD 12. Further, one HDD may be divided into an HDD 12 which is a portion for storing image data, a portion for holding the picture management table 18 and a reproduction stop position table 20, and used.

The still picture decoding section 16 includes remote controllers 30, 32.
When a scene search instruction is given from, the picture management table is referred to, in addition to the still images at regular intervals and before and after the scene change, the scenes that the users A and B have previously interrupted the reproduction are displayed. Still images are extracted and displayed as a list on the display unit 22.

The respective operations of the image reproducing apparatus 1 will be described below. [Recording Operation] When the CPU 4 detects that a recording instruction is given from the remote controllers 30 and 32 via the receiving unit 2, the CPU 8 initializes the tuner 8 and the HDD control unit 10 and starts the recording operation.

The video data of the program received by the tuner 8 is recorded in the HDD 12 via the HDD control unit 10. When recording the data of each picture in the HDD 12,
The HDD control unit records in the picture management table 18 the start address (sector) of the data of the picture that can be displayed as a still image when the scene search instruction is given.

For example, when the program data recorded in the HDD 12 is in the MPEG (moving picture experts group) format, a picture that can be easily displayed as a still image when a scene search instruction is given is an intra-frame prediction. It is a coded I (intra) picture. P pictures and B pictures are compressed by inter-frame prediction. In order to display a P picture or a B picture as a still picture, it is necessary to perform decoding processing of pictures before and after, so that the processing amount becomes large. Therefore,
When the MPEG format is used, the picture management table 18 records the start address (sector) of I-picture data.

[Reproduction Operation] The user gives a reproduction instruction using the remote controller. In the image reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, each user gives an instruction using a different remote controller. As a result, the image reproducing apparatus 1 recognizes whether the instruction is from the user A or the user B.

The CPU 4 receives a reproduction instruction from the remote controllers 30 and 32, and the HDD control unit 10 and the decoding processing unit 1
3. Initialize the display unit 22 and start the reproducing operation. HDD
The video data recorded in 12 is sequentially read from the HDD 12 by the HDD control unit 10, decoded by the moving picture decoding unit 14, and displayed on the display unit 22.

[Playback Stop Operation] FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the reproduction stop operation of FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the user gives an instruction to stop the reproduction by using the remote controllers 30 and 32 while the program is being reproduced. The CPU 4 receives a reproduction stop instruction from the remote controllers 30 and 32 (step S1).

The CPU 4 gives a reproduction stop instruction to the HDD controller 10 (step S2). Then, the CPU 4
The video decoding unit 14 is instructed to stop the reproduction (step S
3). Further, the CPU 4 gives a reproduction stop instruction to the display unit 22 (step S4). As described above, the reproduction of the video is stopped (step S5).

Then, the HDD control section 10 stores the stopped address (sector) in the reproduction stop position table 20 (step S6). Then, the CPU 4 stores "stop date / time information" and "user information" identified from the remote controller in the reproduction stop position table (step S7).

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a reproduction stop operation by a plurality of users. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of the reproduction stop position table of FIG.

A case where a certain program is recorded in the HDD 12 of FIG. 1 and user A and user B watch this program will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, the user A uses the remote controller 30 to instruct the image reproducing apparatus to reproduce the program. And user A
After watching the program for a while, the remote controller 30 is used to instruct the image reproducing apparatus to stop the program. The reproduction of the program is interrupted at the stop position P1. At this time, in steps S6 and S7 of FIG. 2, information is recorded in the reproduction stop position table. In the reproduction position table of FIG. 4, with respect to the stop position P1, the stop sector is “2031 sector”, and the stop date and time is “June 21, 2001, 11: 3 am.
5 minutes ", the user information is recorded as" A ". After the program stop position P1, the user A remains unviewed,
User A leaves the image reproduction device.

Next, the user B uses the remote controller 32 to instruct the image reproducing apparatus to reproduce the same program. Then, the user B watches the program for a while, and then uses the remote controller 32 to instruct the image reproducing apparatus to stop the program. The reproduction of the program is interrupted at the stop position P2. At this time, in steps S6 and S7 of FIG. 2, information is recorded in the reproduction stop position table. In the reproduction position table of FIG. 4, regarding the stop position P2, the stop sector is “4263 sector”, and the stop date and time is “June 22, 2001, 5:03 pm”.
5 minutes ", the user information is recorded as" B ". After the program stop position P2, the user B remains unviewed,
User B leaves the image reproduction device.

[Scene Retrieval Operation] In the present specification, scene retrieval is performed by setting a plurality of reproduction start position candidates in order to specify the reproduction start position of a program recorded on a recording medium. The operation of displaying a plurality of still images corresponding to the above on the screen.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the scene search operation. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the user uses the remote controllers 30 and 32 to instruct the display of the scene search screen (step S11). The CPU 4 reads the reproduction stop address (sector) from the reproduction stop position table (step S12).

The CPU 4 further refers to the picture management table 18 to obtain the start address of the I picture before the stop position address from the picture management table (step S13).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the stop position and the I picture. Referring to FIG. 6, it is assumed that the stop position is the B picture position. Since B-pictures and P-pictures have been subjected to interframe predictive coding between the preceding and subsequent pictures, it is difficult to immediately display the screen as a still image. Therefore, the I picture close to the stop position is displayed as a still image. The I picture is intraframe predictive encoded, but not interframe predictive encoded.
Therefore, a still image can be created by reading only the data of the picture from the HDD 12 and decoding it.

Even if the picture after the stop position is close to the stop position, the picture after the stop position is not viewed by the user and may not remind the user of the stop position. select.

FIG. 6 shows the case where the I picture immediately before the stop position is selected as a still picture, but it is not limited to the immediately preceding case.
The I picture three screens before may be used. The address of the stop position and a plurality of I's stored in the picture management table
By comparing the start address of the picture, the CPU
4 can select an appropriate start address of the I picture.

Referring again to FIG. 5, when the start address of the I picture is obtained, the CPU 4 causes the HDD control unit 10 to set H
It is instructed to read the data including the I picture from the DD 12 (step S14).

In response to this, the still picture decoding unit is
The data read from is decoded and a still image video signal is output to the display unit 22, and the display unit 22 displays this (step S15). The stop date / time information and the user information corresponding to the still image are read from the reproduction stop position table (step S16), and these pieces of information are also written on the still image (step S17).

As shown in FIG. 4, when there are a plurality of reproduction position stop information in the reproduction stop position table, the operation of the flow chart of FIG. 5 is repeated a plurality of times and a plurality of still images and the stop corresponding to these still images are repeated. Date and time information and user information are displayed. If the user who stopped playback and the user who instructed the scene search screen display are the same and there is a plurality of playback stop position information, only the last stopped playback position is selected and a still image is displayed. In this case, the CPU 4 refers to the reproduction position table, and selects the stop position having the latest user date and time and the latest stop date and time for displaying the still image.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of the scene search screen. With reference to FIG. 7, nine still images of scene 1 to scene 9 are displayed on the screen, and the user selects one of the still images by an instruction from the remote controller to display the still image. You can start watching the program from a position.

Scenes 1 to 3, 5 to 7 and 9 show still images extracted by constant time intervals or scene changes as in the conventional case. The frames of scenes 4 and 8 are highlighted by highlighting, indicating that the user has stopped the reproduction in the past. Below scene 4, "User A, 01/06/21, AM11: 35", and below scene 8, "User B, 01/06/22, PM5: 35" and the users corresponding to each scene. And the stop date and time are displayed.

By displaying in this way, the user can select the scene in which he / she interrupted by recalling the memory when the viewing was interrupted in the past by knowing the outline of the entire program by the still image. Even when a plurality of users share the image reproducing apparatus, it becomes easy for each user to watch the continuation of the program viewed in the past.

[Modification] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a modification of the reproduction stop operation.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, the user gives a reproduction stop instruction by using the remote controllers 30 and 32 while the program is being reproduced. The CPU 4 receives a reproduction stop instruction from the remote controllers 30 and 32 (step S31).

The CPU 4 issues a reproduction stop instruction to the HDD control unit 10 (step S32). Then, CPU4
Instructs the moving picture decoding section 14 to stop reproduction (step S33). Further, the CPU 4 issues a reproduction stop instruction to the display unit 22 (step S34). From the above,
The video reproduction is stopped (step S35).

Subsequently, the CPU 4 refers to the picture management table 18 and obtains the start address of the I picture before the stop position address from the picture management table (step S36).

Then, the HDD controller 10 stores the start address of the I picture in the reproduction stop position table 20 (step S37). Then, the CPU 4 stores "stop date / time information" and "user information" identified from the remote controller in the reproduction stop position table (step S38).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the scene search operation corresponding to FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 9, the user uses the remote controllers 30 and 32 to instruct the display of the scene search screen (step S41). The CPU 4 reads the start address of the I picture from the reproduction stop position table from the reproduction stop position table (step S42).

Subsequently, the CPU 4 sends the H
It is instructed to read the data including the I picture from the DD 12 (step S43).

In response to this, the still picture decoding unit is
The data read from is decoded and a still image video signal is output to the display unit 22, and the display unit 22 displays this (step S44). The stop date / time information and the user information corresponding to the still image are read from the reproduction stop position table (step S45), and these pieces of information are also written on the still image (step S46).

According to the operation flow of the modified example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the user gives an instruction to stop, the head address of the I picture that can be displayed as a still image is obtained in advance, so the user again It is possible to reduce the waiting time when the scene search operation is instructed to start viewing.

Although the present invention has been described by taking the recording apparatus capable of recording and reproducing the program on the hard disk as an example, the recording medium is not limited to the hard disk. The recording medium may be, for example, an optical disk as long as it is a randomly accessible recording medium. Further, the present invention is applicable not only when the recording medium is incorporated in the main body but also when it is removable. Further, even in a device which only reproduces a program on a recording medium without recording the program, a picture management table and a reproduction stop position table corresponding to the recording medium are provided separately from the recording medium, and data can be written to these. Therefore, the present invention is applicable.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

[0067]

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION The position at which the user has stopped the reproduction in the past is likely to be the position where the user searches for the continuation unless it is the end of the program. As described above, according to the present invention, the still image corresponding to the reproduction stop position is displayed on the scene search screen as a part of the still image for designating the reproduction start position. Can quickly cue.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image reproducing device 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of a reproduction stop operation of the image reproducing device 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a reproduction stop operation by a plurality of users.

4 is a diagram showing the contents of a reproduction stop position table of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a scene search operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a stop position and an I picture.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of a scene search screen.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the reproduction stop operation.

9 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the scene search operation corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image reproducing device 101 using a conventional hard disk.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 image reproducing device, 2 receiving unit, 4 CPU, 6 antenna, 8 tuner, 10 HDD control unit, 13 decoding processing unit, 14 moving image decoding unit, 16 still image decoding unit, 18
Picture management table, 20 reproduction stop position table, 22 display section, 30, 32 remote controller.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 5C052 AA01 AB09 AC08 CC01 CC11                 5C053 FA23 GA11 GB37 HA29 JA21                       KA24 LA06 LA07                 5D044 AB05 AB07 AB08 BC01 CC04                       DE22 GK11 HL04                 5D110 AA13 AA26 AA28 DA18 DB09                       FA02

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a program recorded on a recording medium capable of random access, comprising: an access control means for reading data from the recording medium; and the access control means for reading data from the recording medium. Decoding means for receiving the data and outputting the video signal of the reproduced program and the video signal of the scene search screen, display processing means for performing the image display processing upon receiving the output of the decoding means, and a reproduction command and a stop from the outside. A command and a scene search command; and, in response to the reproduction command, instruct the access control unit to read program reproduction data from the recording medium, and in response to the stop command, the access control unit to the program. It was instructed to stop the reading of the reproduction data, and when the access control means received the stop command in response to the scene search command, the reproduction was performed. And a system control means for instructing data reading of the first still image associated with the surface, the image reproducing apparatus. 2. The system control means causes the access control means to read data of a second still image which is a candidate for selection of a reproduction start position in addition to the first still image, in response to the scene search command. The decoding means decodes the data of the first and second still images, and the display processing means displays a list of a plurality of still images including the first and second still images. Image display processing,
The image reproducing device according to claim 1. 3. The program includes a first screen group compressed by intra-frame coding and a second screen group compressed by inter-frame predictive coding, and the system control means is configured to perform the stop. When the stop screen that was being reproduced when the command was received belongs to the second screen group, the data of the predetermined screen belonging to the first screen group that was reproduced before the stop screen is transferred to the first still image. Instructing the access control means to read out as image data,
The image reproducing device according to claim 1. 4. A picture management table that holds recording position information of screen data compressed by intraframe coding on the recording medium, and program information that is being played back when the stop command is received. A playback stop position table is further provided, the program information includes stop position information which is position information of the data of the stop screen in the recording medium, and the system control means, the stop position information in response to the scene search command. The image reproduction device according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined screen is specified by comparing the image management table with the picture management table. 5. A picture management table that holds recording position information of screen data compressed by intraframe coding on the recording medium, and program information that is being played back when the stop command is received. A playback stop position table is further provided, the program information includes stop position information that is position information of the stop screen data on the recording medium, and the program information is position information of the predetermined screen data on the recording medium. 4. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the system control unit refers to the position information in response to the scene search command and instructs the access control unit to read the data of the first still image. . 6. The holding means for holding date and time information when the stop command is received, the display means displaying the date and time information together with the display of the first still image. Image playback device. 7. A holding unit for holding user information of a user who has input the stop command when the stop command is received, the display unit displaying the first still image together with the user information. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, which displays the image. 8. The holding means holds, in addition to the user information, stop position information when a stop instruction is received for each user, and the system control means corresponds to a user who inputs the scene search instruction. Referring to the stop position information
The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, which instructs the access control means to read the data of the still image.